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The Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System) clocked 19 near-Earth asteroids during the night of 29 January, setting a record for the most number of asteroids discovered in one night.

Richard Wainscoat (left) and Marco Micheli study one of the near-Earth asteroids found on January 29. The asteroid is the roundish dot near WainscoatÕs finger. IfA photo by Karen Teramura.

The observation team initially identified 30 possible asteroid candidates, but in order for them to be confirmed, they must be re-observed several times within 12-72 hours. This enables astronomers to track them against the background stars to determine their orbits, before they move too far away to be seen again. Nineteen asteroids were confirmed in total.

“This record number of discoveries shows that PS1 is the world’s most powerful telescope for this kind of study,” says Nick Kaiser, head of the Pan-STARRS project. “NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s support of this project illustrates how seriously they are taking the threat from near-Earth asteroids.”

The initial discoveries were sent to the Minor Planet Center which collects and disseminates data about asteroids and comets so that other astronomers can re-observe these objects. As well as mainland telescopes, astronomers located in Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Faulkes Telescope on Haleakala helped to confirm the discoveries.

Pan-STARRS is a 1.8 metre facility in Hawaii and is deemed to be the front line of Earth defence, scanning the sky every night with the world's largest digital camera that boasts 1,400 megapixels. As well as asteroids and comets, the telescope will also catalogue supernovae, quasars and stars as it maps one-sixth of the sky every month. It detected its first potentially hazardous asteroid in September 2010 (read more here).

The PlanetsFrom tiny Mercury to distant Neptune and Pluto, The Planets profiles each of the Solar System's members in depth, featuring the latest imagery from space missions. The tallest mountains, the deepest canyons, the strongest winds, raging atmospheric storms, terrain studded with craters and vast worlds of ice are just some of the sights you'll see on this 100-page tour of the planets. GET YOUR COPY

Hubble RebornHubble Reborn takes the reader on a journey through the Universe with spectacular full-colour pictures of galaxies, nebulae, planets and stars as seen through Hubble's eyes, along the way telling the dramatic story of the space telescope, including interviews with key scientists and astronauts. GET YOUR COPY

3D UniverseWitness the most awesome sights of the Universe as they were meant to be seen in this 100-page extravaganza of planets, galaxies and star-scapes, all in 3D! GET YOUR COPY